7:1  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

7:2  to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all {the spoils,} was first of all, by the translation {of his name,} king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

7:3  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

7:4  Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

7:5  And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

7:6  But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

7:7  But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

7:8  In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one {receives them,} of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

7:9  And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

7:10  for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

7:11  Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need {was there} for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

7:12  For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

7:13  For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

7:14  For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

7:15  And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

7:16  who has become {such} not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

7:17  For it is attested {of Him,} "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

7:18  For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

7:19  (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

7:20  And inasmuch as {it was} not without an oath

7:21  (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, `YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER');"

7:22  so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

7:23  The {former} priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

7:24  but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

7:25  Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

7:26  For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

7:27  who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the {sins} of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

7:28  For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, {appoints} a Son, made perfect forever.